The Race to Replace Graham Platner

July 10, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“I think as many of you know, over the past couple days, I have faced some very serious allegations. And I just want to make it clear. This is all false.” That was Graham Platner on Wednesday evening, announcing he would suspend his campaign for Senate in Maine — but not before spending 11 minutes blaming the Democratic establishment for a conspiracy to force him out. He has not yet filed the paperwork to formally withdraw, and may wait until the Monday deadline. The episode covers the chaotic aftermath, the crowded field to replace him, and the broader lessons for the party, before turning to the escalating conflict with Iran and an interview with North Carolina Senate candidate Roy Cooper.

The Platner Exit and Its Fallout

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What you'll learn

1 (02:56) **Welcome & Graham Platner Suspends Campaign** - Dan Pfeiffer and Alex Wagner introduce the episode; Platner announces he will withdraw from the Maine Senate race after sexual assault allegations.
2 (05:14) **Alex Wagner Reacts to Platner's Video** - Wagner calls the video "asshole, asshole, asshole" and dismantles Platner's conspiracy theory framing.
3 (07:11) **Dan Pfeiffer: Platner's Exit Is "Trumpian" and Counterproductive** - Pfeiffer says the video is full of conspiracy theories and self-absorption, making it harder to defeat Collins.
4 (10:05) **What Happens Next: The Convention Process** - The Maine Democratic Party will hold a convention to pick a new nominee by July 27th.
5 (14:16) **Who Might Run: The Crowded Field of Candidates** - A sample of potential replacements, including Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah, Dan Cleveland, and others.
6 (22:06) **Pfeiffer Reflects on Being Wrong About Platner** - Pfeiffer admits he was a Platner skeptic from the start but acknowledges his own blind spots.
7 (31:46) **Wagner Asks About Schumer's Role in the Mess** - Discussion of whether the DSCC's heavy-handed candidate recruitment in Maine backfired.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Dan Pfeiffer Roy Cooper

Show Notes

Graham Platner announces he's ending his Senate campaign, and Maine Democrats scramble to replace him. Dan and Alex Wagner discuss the state of the race, what it'll take to get a new name on the ballot, and why so many (but not Alex) were wrong about Platner. Then, they discuss Trump restarting the war with Iran, the administration's socialist plan to lower gas prices for a select few in Philadelphia, and why Trump is trading in his new Air Force One for the old one. Finally, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper talks to Dan about his campaign for Senate and what it'll take to flip the Tar Heel State blue for the first time since 2008.